(a) The acupuncture board by rule may require a license holder to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education courses approved by the acupuncture board to renew a license.
(a-1) The acupuncture board shall establish written guidelines for granting continuing education credit that specify:
(1) procedural requirements;
(2) the qualifications needed to be considered a preferred provider of continuing education; and
(3) course content requirements.
(b) The acupuncture board shall consider the approval of a course conducted by:
(1) a knowledgeable health care provider; or
(2) a reputable school, state, or professional organization.
(c) After guidelines are established under Subsection (a-1), the acupuncture board shall delegate to medical board employees the authority to approve course applications for courses that clearly meet the guidelines. Medical board employees shall refer any courses that are not clearly within the guidelines to the acupuncture board for review and approval.